Exploring the Role of Biomarkers Associated with Osteoporosis and Pyroptosis through Bioinformatics Analysis

Objectives Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mineral density and deterioration of the microarchitecture of bone tissue. The early identification and treatment of individuals at risk for OP are crucial in mitigating its detrimental consequences. Method We retrieved transcriptome and gene data associated with pyroptosis from the GEO and GSEA databases for patients with OP. Differential expression analysis was conducted to compare OP patients with control samples, resulting in identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to pyroptosis. Subsequently, functional enrichment analysis using the "clusterProfiler" package was performed on these DEGs. Interaction relationships among the identified DEGs were analyzed using the STRING online database. Machine learning techniques including LASSO, SVM, and RF were employed for biomarker screening, while immune cell infiltration was evaluated using the ssGSEA algorithm. Furthermore, a ceRNA regulatory network was constructed. Finally, we identified diseases and drugs that interact with the biomarkers, and performed molecular docking. Results The screening process identified a total of 18 DEGs with potential regulatory functions (PR-DEGs). The function of them were pyroptosis, intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, human cytomegalovirus infection, apoptosis and other pathways. PRKACA , CASP6 were the OP biomarkers. The GSEA analysis reveals a significant enrichment of differential genes associated with PRKACA in the process of amino acid biosynthesis. Similarly, the results of PCASP6 differential gene enrichment analysis demonstrate a notable enrichment in the process of fat digestion and absorption, potentially implicating its involvement in disease development. Ultimately, a total of 10 drugs were identified as potential candidates for targeted therapy in OP. Conclusion In The present study screened two key biomarkers, PRKACA and CASP6, in OP, providing a theoretical framework for elucidating the underlying biological mechanisms involved in OP development.